What to feed pigeons? Domestic pigeons: maintenance, care

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

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Very beautiful and delicate birds - pigeons, domesticated them for a long time. Everyone knows that in ancient times, when there were no postmen, their work was carried out by carrier pigeons, which were able to deliver messages over long distances. The birds never forgot the way.

Natural mail delivery was used by such famous historical figures as Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan and others. The maintenance and breeding of pigeons is practiced by all peoples, in all countries these birds enjoy universal love. Pigeon breeding was most developed in China and India, a little later Northern and Central Europe joined these countries. These birds are very easy to care for, and feeding pigeons also does not present any particular difficulties for the poultry breeder. Of course, there are some rules and conditions for keeping beautiful feathered creatures, but for the sake of such homely beauty it is worth making a little effort and learning the secrets of dealing with delicate pets.

Beautiful birds - domestic pigeons

The white dove has long been considered a symbol ofpeace, prosperity and love. A person who at least once came into close contact with beautiful birds will no longer be able to forget these wonderful impressions. Pigeons can simply bewitch with their delicate appearance, ease of flight and romantic cooing.

In the modern world, keeping pigeons for breeding, training and competition is becoming increasingly popular. A variety of various breeds is striking in its beauty. Feeding domestic pigeons, caring for them, preventing diseases - all these issues are of great interest to beginners in such a business as breeding decorative birds. Now it is not difficult to find out such information, the main thing is to follow all the rules so that feathered pets do not suffer from mistreatment.

Some people are enthusiastically engaged in breeding work, breeding new colors of plumage of birds, others breed pigeons for the sake of participating in sports competitions, but there are also such lovers for whom just talking with such beauty is a pleasure and relaxation. All pigeon breeders are united by a great love for celestial creatures that cause only positive emotions.

In what conditions should pigeons be kept?

Domestic pigeons, like their wild counterparts, always keep in flocks, they just need contact with their own kind. Naturally, certain relationships are established between members of the pigeon family. The territory of the dovecote and the aviary is strictly divided into nesting areas, in the center of each of them is the nest itself. The male defends his territory and his female. Together birdseat food, drink water and sit down for the night.

Based on the foregoing, every pigeon breeder should take seriously how to keep feathered pets and how to feed domestic pigeons. Every day, watching the flock, you need to establish who owns which part of the dovecote, where young people can rest, and where are the birds of the lowest rank. Very rarely, if absolutely necessary, it is possible to move the nest box to another place; it is also undesirable to very often replace one pair with another. Such actions are always accompanied by stress for pigeons, because a hierarchy is established in the flock, which is so rudely invaded by a person.

If the birds are kept in a calm environment, then they behave similarly. They give the best results in sports and show their best in cages at competitions and exhibitions.

You still need to know how and what to feed the pigeons in order to accustom them to you. It is necessary to ensure that the birds are not afraid to take food from their hands and calmly react to the cleaning of the dovecote. The very first rule to follow is to come to your pets in the same clothes. The second is to regularly feed them with their favorite treat - sunflower seeds. At first, the seeds simply fall into the feeder, after a while they can be scattered around you, then carefully try to give food with an open palm.

If it is necessary to capture this or that pigeon, then it is not recommended to do it during the day. The best time for this is twilight. If there is a need to catch in daylight, thenthe room needs to be darkened.

Caring for domestic pigeons

In order for feathered pets to feel comfortable, they need proper care. In the pigeon house, droppings should be cleaned regularly. Particularly in need of frequent cleaning of the nest with chicks and young. Growing birds leave a lot of droppings behind. Also, the poultry farmer must know that the eggs in the clutch must be clean. If the testicle is at least partially contaminated, then the shell in these places will not let air through, and the embryo may suffer from this. Light cleaning should be carried out daily, thorough - once a week, general - 2 times a year, in spring and autumn during warm weather.

You need to check your pets every day. This procedure is carried out during feeding. If the bird is in good he alth, then it quickly flies up to the feed and eats with appetite. Sick pigeons peck weakly or do not approach the feed at all and sit to the side, closing their eyes and pulling their heads into their shoulders. Sick birds must be isolated immediately.

Very often, balls of droppings form on the claws of birds, which make it difficult for them to move. They take such pigeons in their hands and carefully remove these lumps from their claws. In addition to proper care, winged pets need vitamins. It is also very important what kind of food is used for pigeons in one or another period of their life.

Feeding during the winter months

Every pigeon breeder should know how to feed pigeons in winter. It begins in October, when the birds stop laying eggs. It is from this moment that you need to feed them grain withmoderate protein content. This is done so that there is no sexual arousal.

It is also necessary that the food promotes the formation of subcutaneous fat. This will help the pigeons stay warm and will serve as the starting material for building down and feathers when it's time to molt.

Based on the above facts, we conclude that in winter the best food for pigeons is a mixture of barley and oats (70%/30%). Another mix of barley, oats, split corn and lentils (40%/40%/10%/10%) is also great. Useful in the cold for handsome feathered potatoes, peeled and boiled in s alt water. It is recommended to add clover flour, wheat bran and crushed lime to it.

After a day, flax and rapeseed seeds are given as top dressing, for 15 pairs about 45 grams.

Feeding during mating season

What to feed pigeons during the breeding season? It is imperative that you know the answer to this question. After all, at this time the birds need special attention. They should eat foods that are rich in minerals and protein. If pigeons feel a deficiency of the latter during the mating season, this can lead to a decrease in the reproductive function and vitality of pigeons.

The best food at this time are legumes. It is from them that the diet of birds should consist to a greater extent. Beans are voluminous feed, with their help the birds are quickly saturated. Be sure to include peas in the menu of pigeons during the mating season. Recommendedfeed mixes:

1. Peas - 20%, vetch - 10%, wheat - 10%, millet - 20%, barley - 20%, corn - 10%, oats - 10%;2. Vetch - 20%, corn - 20%, wheat - 15%, millet - 10%, peas - 15%, barley - 10%, oilseeds - 10%.

How and what to feed the young?

Another important point in pigeon breeding is the question of how to feed a pigeon chick at home. Babies weaned from their parents in the first weeks need enhanced feeding. Only when the iris of the eyes of the cubs becomes the same color as that of the parents, food portions can be reduced. Young people are fed three times a day. In the morning and afternoon - small portions, and in the evening the chicks receive the bulk of the daily allowance.

Grains are recommended to be moistened with fish oil, at least a few drops. So that the chicks do not lag behind in growth, they are fed large quantities of wheat, adding a little vetch, barley and peas to it. When young people are already flying in flocks, wheat can be given in smaller quantities, replacing it with peas and vetch.

Vitamins for pigeons

Like all living things, birds need he althy supplements to their main food. Vitamins for pigeons should be given based on the weight of the birds, what state of he alth, what physical activity the birds will face. In addition, the period of the life cycle is taken into account: growth, molting, egg production, feeding of chicks.

Sporting pigeons need strengthening supplements. Feathered athletes are recommendedmultivitamins in the form of dragees, you can also dissolve them in drinking water. Give before and after the competition. In winter and in stressful situations, vitamins for birds are essential.

What is not allowed to feed pigeons

What can not be fed to pigeons so that the birds do not get sick and die:

• fish contains a lot of easily digestible phosphorus, pigeons are not able to process it;

• poultry cannot digest meat products, after eating meat it can die;

• in pigeons there are few lactic acid bacteria in the body, if you give them milk, this can lead to a decline in calcium and dysbacteriosis;

• cheese contains a lot of preservatives and fat, they are contraindicated for birds;• the most forbidden product for pigeons - This is bread, especially black. The fact is that it causes fermentation in the stomach, which can cause problems with digestion.

Interesting facts about pigeons

• Did you know that pigeons have simply unique vision! Neither the sun nor bright glare from an electric welding machine can blind them. Even flashes of lasers do not harm the retina of a pigeon's eye.

• In the 11th and 12th centuries, when there were no telephones or mail, a dove was valued at the same price as a thoroughbred stallion.

• In ancient times, a dove was considered a totem animal that patronized a person. In Australia, the bird favored only women.• Christians consider pigeons to be God's birds. In ancient times, they were placed in the graves of martyrs as a symbol of resurrection.